Because the liver may be contained entirely within the rib cage in normal cats and dogs, microhepatica is more difficult to recognise than hepatomegaly.
Changes in the angle of the gastric fundus in the right lateral projection could indicate a small hepatic shadow if the angle is more upright or perpendicular to the spine – especially if the stomach seems close to the diaphragm.
The liver may also seem small in animals with traumatic diaphragmatic hernia and herniation of liver lobes into the thorax or in those with congenital peritoneopericardial hernia.
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